Principles of Farm Animal Husbandry – Intensive and Extensive Farming

The hurt intensifier and extensive at heart farm fleshly husbandry suggest to the methods animals are raised and processed.Intensive dry land Gener totallyy referred to as industrial and factory terra firma, this method is used to charge mass production of meats and dairy. parent animals are kept in specially built social units all division round in show to better control feeding and management. Examples of these plnether be anchor in battery cages to house chickens to aid chunk collection, and farrowing crates to restrict sows within breeding units.Animals mickle be fed, wet and promiscuoused by automatic systems such as feed hoppers and drinkers.Extensive farming Can excessively be linked with free-range, animals are able to freely move around and graze outdoors. This method is usually utilised in regions with a lesser demand, such as to a greater extent open hobnailed line of businesss. in that respect are some cases where animals plunder be part intensive and extensively farmed. For example, a sheep may spend the majority of its time outdoors, tho will be brought within and intensively farmed during lambing season.One of the negative impacts created by intensive farming is the increase in manure. Before intensive farming was introduced, farmers would ordinarily spread fund manure onto fields for the crops bring in. However, some farmers prolong begun specialising in regions, crop growing or gunstock, which means intensive bloodline farmers dumbfound to store slurry, which can emit methane, and then travel to areas where this can be disposed of.However, this can be argued as a benefit to farmers who still produce crops as hale as manage livestock as the slurry is readily available in great quantity to aid growth of their crops.A nonher problem appears to be the welfare of the farm animals. sooner of being able to display natural behaviours such as grazing, societal and maternal instincts outdoors as with extensive farmin g, these animals are kept in confined plazas, which can cause signs of rawness, lameness and even aggression.That being said, intensive farming is essential in order to keep supplying viands to an ever growing population.The Five FreedomsThe original concept first appeared within the Report of the Technical Committee to Enquire into the Welfare of Animals kept under Intensive Livestock Husbandry Systems, the Brambell Report, December 1965 (HMSO London, ISBN 0 10 850286 4). This admit the need for farm animals to have freedom to stand up, lie down, puzzle out around, groom themselves and stretch their limbsThe Five Freedoms are1. Freedom from hunger and famish By ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full wellness and vigourEnsure troughs, nipple drinkers and both former(a) feeding instruments are at an appropriate location and tallness for animals, and that these instruments are cleaned and checked for blockages on a daily basis. All oxen require that sufficient roughage be readily available. Sheep require fresh, clean water be available at all times.2. Freedom from discomfort By providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting areaEnsuring there is enough place for the animal to move freely and have fresh, clean bedding appropriate to that species, such as straw. A pigs resting area should remain dry, which can be achieved by being on a slightly higher level than its dunging area.3. Freedom from pain injury or disease By prevention or by rapid diagnosing and treatmentLivestock housed intensively should be kept in buildings with an potent ventilation system system and kept out of draughts to minimise respiratory problems. Monitoring for signs of disease, stress, illness, infestation and lameness is essential to ensure this can be dealt with appropriately and promptly. Ensuring all farm animals have appropriate vaccinations against diseases, such as bluetongue in cattle. Procedures should be in place to is olate and treat some(prenominal) injured or sick animal. Any animals should be humanely killed if found to be incurable.4. Freedom to express most normal behaviour By providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animals own kindFarmers should determine space allowance according to animal, categorise, age, and size. For example, DEFRA provide this table as an example of veracious practise within housed sheep (1)Normal social interaction is important too, for example, pigs housed indoors are kept in groups after weaning, usually separated by gender. Toys, like buttballs, can also help with the enrichment of the animal.5. Freedom from fear and sadness By ensuring conditions and treatment to avoid mental suffering.(2)Ensuring stock-keepers are fully t to each one and have the fellowship and skills to carefully manage any farm animal sympathetically, from being able to handle and herd the animals effectively, to providing accurate injury or illness care.Environ ment and Housing Requirements for PigsThe Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2003 states there are dissimilar requirements, in terms of space and temperature, dependant on the stage, size and class of pig. Though, some factors have to be taken into account throughout all types, such as comfortable and dry bedding, which can be seen in all the below images, as the college farm uses clean, fresh straw throughout.(3) (4)farrowing Sows and Piglets The image directly below shows a sow with ten piglets within the farrowing village in the college farm. This shows the sow and piglets have enough space to stand up and manoeuvre, inside and out of the arc.The to a higher place images show a drinker, providing clean fresh water, and a feeding trough providing pellets.Weaner and Rearing Pigs The said(prenominal) regulations state the minimum unobstructed floor area available to each weaner and rearing pig should be at least (5)The above depiction shows the colleges pigs in firs t stage. Weaners and rearer pigs should have adequate space in order to exercise, feed and for all pigs to lie flat on their side simultaneously, which the above pictures demonstrate.The images also show feeding troughs are raised and at an kind height for the pigs to feed comfortably and separately from resting areas.Dry Sows and Gilts (6)(2)As well as being able to move around freely, the pigs resting area requires to be elevated in comparison to its dunging area to ensure their resting area rest clean and dry.Concrete slatted floors are used within the pig unit as this proves to be smooth and easy to keep hygienic and also not slippery which could lead to accidents and injury.Lighting, ventilation and temperature control is also full of life to promote pig health.The college pig units provide natural lighting and ventilation within the roofs, the latter of which help remove noxious gases and control temperatures. haughty the pigs feeds and bedding also helps maintain the app ropriate temperature.As mentioned previously, the recommended temperature varies dependant on the category of pig, the table above shows this.Livestock Health and WelfareThere are two main factors to be taken into account whilst discussing health and welfare, those being mental and physical.In terms of livestock mental health and welfare, one of the factors to take into account would be the animals stimulus. This could be objects the animal can entertain itself with, such as a ball, or even vertical animals of the same species to interact with. An animal may suffer mentally or become stressed if it is left segregated without anything to aid mental enrichment.On the physical side, illnesses common within certain farm animals may be a problem if not properly vaccinated against, illnesses such and foot and mouth among pigs and cattle. Respiratory problems can occur if housing for farm animals does not have the required ventilation measures in place.Issues could occur during the transp ortation of livestock whether this is physical in that the animal is mishandled or if the transportations flooring is not so as to prevent slipping, or mentally in that the animal may become stressed, especially if force is used within the process.All these aspects and more all come down to one main factor, stockmanship. Providing stock-keepers have the acquired knowledge and skills from onsite training and relevant courses, these factors should all be well manageable. From handling skills and care, to preventing and treating illnesses and parasites, and other general maintenance required to ensure health and welfare is upheld.